The year 2009 will go down in people's minds as a year of many changes
and strange occurrences. Being a year of general elections Malawians saw
a change in the voting pattern. For the first time the electorate did
not vote based on regional lines, a thing that observers felt was maturity
in Malawi's democracy. President Bingu wa Mutharika won with a landslide
victory.
After five years of a government in opposition in the National Assembly
the Democratic Progressive Party DPP in now the majority in parliament.
This arrangement has seen the opposition being defeated even when they
have valid points. Parliament cruised through bills during the budget
sitting when it only took a few days to pass the whole budget.
Months after Mutharika was given another mandate to rule Malawi a number
of decisions that he has made have left people with more questions than
answers. The issue of the quota system is still a hot debate among Malawians.
It is not clear whether in the end it will assist to achieve its intended
goal to the satisfaction of every Malawian citizen. Another issue is that
of the many powers that parliament is piling on the president. Like in
The One Party Era it all started with people that were close to the then
president Dr Kamuzu Banda, giving him too much power. Some overzealous
politicians are slowly bestowing the same on Mutharika.
Some people are also at pains to understand why Mutharika all of sudden
has developed a carefree attitude towards Malawians. In some of his statements
Mutharika showed that he does not care on some occasion when he was either
addressing members of the press or the nation. Still fresh in people's
minds is the way he told this nation about his trip to Portugal. Like
some political analysts have noted Mutharika needs to slow down on his
utterances some of which have been questionable.
Malawi continued to face a lot of challenges in the just ended year. Reports
of Malawi's economy being among the fastest growing economies in the world
would make a layperson raise eyebrows when there are shortages of Forex
and fuel among other things. In the same vain reports of a minimal imports
cover also make people wonder what these sentiments mean. Something somewhere
does not add up.

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY AND BLESSED 2010

POLITICS

The Year of the Watershed

Reflecting back over the year one cannot escape the importance of the
before and after. This refers of course to the 19th of May national presidential
and parliamentary elections. Bingu wa Mutharika won the presidency with
more than 64% of the vote. His runner up JZU Tembo had about 30% of the
presidential vote. In the parliamentary election the Democratic Progressive
Party DPP had 37.7% of the valid votes, while independents had over 29%.
The 37.7% meant under the first past the post system, that 112 out 191
verified seats went to the DPP. 31 went to Independents, many of whom
decided to join the DPP. 27 to the once mighty Malawi Congress Party MCP
and 17 to the United Democratic Front UDF. The number of female MPs rose
from 27 to 40. The victory of Mutharika was devastating. Most commentators
and observers as well as the general public were caught by surprise. Many
predicted a win for Mutharika but not such a landslide victory.

The Before

Choosing Candidates
It has become commonplace to blame the third and multiple term bids of
Bakili Muluzi (prior to the 2004 elections) for the imposition of Mutharika
as candidate for the presidency on the UDF. Instead of being a puppet
president Mutharika proved to be his own man and after leaving the party
that put him in power, starts his own political party. This led to a very
weak minority government, which had to cope with a very angry opposition.
Looking at the parliamentary proceedings, the attempts to impeach the
president, the battles around the budget and section 65 (about crossing
the floor), the unparliamentary language used, the poor record of bills
passed into law (refer the parliamentary audit by CCJP and HRCC), one
sees the consequences of these developments. Political governance was
taken with a grain of salt. The economy however performed well. Bumper
harvests, food security, debt cancellation, confidence of the donor community,
food on the table for most Malawians were all signs of a sturdy, growing
economy. The combination of an opposition (which was seen by the general
public to be out to topple the president and his government and which
tired the people with the continuous and often open conflict between the
president and his opponents) and a well performing economy, must have
been the secret that landed the DPP its majority and the president his
landslide victory.

January saw the DPP holding a convention and 'choosing' (without any
other candidate) Bingu as presidential candidate. The running mate is
not yet chosen by any of the parties. We will have to await February when
candidates declare their candidacy before the electoral commission. Primaries
in all camps create the usual discontent and conflict. Many who do not
make it stand as independents. The question of the candidacy of Muluzi
is not yet settled. Brown Mpinganjira, political migrant that he is, joins
the MCP camp. Is this because they are foreseeing the alliance between
UDF and MCP?

In February with the time of declaring their candidacy for the presidency,
the nation learns that Bingu has chosen Joyce Banda as running mate. Having
a woman as running mate is a fact that much has been said about. One of
the presidential candidates is Loveness Gondwe the only woman to run for
the presidency. The primaries are still running into problems. Cabinet
ministers who are not chosen in the primaries are sacked from cabinet.
The number who stand as independents grows.
Recriminations between the main presidential candidates continue. The
political climate in the country is seen as bad enough to warrant the
visit of Joachim Chisanu and John Kufuor. They try to bring the conflicting
parties together. They are somewhat successful but Tembo will later scoff
at the visit when he calls it wasted time.

Campaigning and Alignments
The 17th March is set by the electoral commission as the official start
of the campaign. But of course all have started to campaign already. Bingu
cleverly claims the mantle of Kamuzu and makes it look as if he is continuing
the development agenda of Kamuzu Banda. He unveils with much pomp the
statue of Banda. Tembo does not attend this event. At the same time Muluzi
is being prosecuted by the Anti Corruption Bureau.

The Electoral Commission finally rejects the candidacy of Bakili Muluzi.
He vows to fight this in the courts. The EC does give extra time to submit
other candidates, but the UDF cannot do without their Bakili. And while
the parliament is dissolved, the ACB continues prosecuting Muluzi.

Civil Society has some problems in monitoring the election process. Late
disbursement of funds is generally claimed as the reason. But those responsible
for funding, say that it is late reporting by civil society etc. which
causes this delay. The Catholic Church uses the Sundays of Lent to help
people to reflect about the elections, about participation and about leadership.
It is done in most churches throughout the country and makes a real contribution
to civic education. Doing so in atmosphere of prayer helps to put at ease
those who fear violent elections. The bishops letter of May 2008 is also
used to civic educate the population.Several other faith communities add
their voices.

It is only in April after court appearances that Muluzi decides to go
in alliance with Tembo's MCP. This is obviously too close to the May 2009
elections. It is too short a time to inform the electorate. Many prove
that they do not understand what is happening by querying why Muluzi does
not appear on the ballot paper. Many a commentator and expert utters the
opinion that MCP and UDF form a formidable alliance and that they will
give Bingu a run for his money. It is obvious with hindsight that the
short time they had to properly inform and convince the electorate will
cost them dearly. The Tembo-Mpinganjira ticket will only amass about 30%
of the national vote and most of the null and void votes are counted in
their traditional support areas.

Resources and Bias
The governing DPP uses all means possible, government resources (e.g.
MACRA funds for DPP shirts, cap, cloth etc.; MACRA is the only parastatals
with money). It uses the public media for about 95% of its total air time.
A report by NICE and the Electoral Commission of December 2008 states
that the main source of information for the rural population is the Malawi
Broadcasting Corporation! The strategy used by Bingu is to continuously
attack his opponents even in their own heartland. This keeps them on the
defensive and makes it less possible for the Tembo camp to outlay all
their strategies for the future of Malawi. The DPP impresses with blue
busses, new Hummer vehicles and mobilizing massive amounts of people.
The language used on both sides is so bad that it does not bode well for
peaceful elections! Churches continue to pray for peaceful elections.
The 19th of May elections, which are in spite of much fear very peaceful
and produce a massive turn out are separating the before and after. The
results of these have already been spelt out and can only be referred
to as a landslide victory. The other side of the watershed.

The After

In his acceptance speech the president spells out that while rule is
by the majority, this does not mean that the views, concerns and rights
of the minority will be neglected. This rule by an absolute majority,
even such that it can change the constitution being more than two thirds,
worries the experts, the commentators, and civil society. One can hear
from the word go that the reduction of the opposition to less than a third
of parliament will mean that there is need for a strong civil society.
They will have to be the check and balance. So one can say that from the
start there is fear that the more than two thirds majority in the august
house will bring a de facto one party state. That this is not just speculation
can be seen by some of the tell tale signs: the speaker of parliament
and both deputies are DPP, the parliamentary committees are chaired by
the DPP; even the deputy chairs are DPP; not one opposition member. The
position of leader of the opposition should go by custom and by standing
orders to the leader of the biggest opposition party, Mr. Tembo. But the
standing orders are changed so that the whole of parliament will determine
who will lead the opposition in the house.

The Cabinet and Priorities
The new Cabinet in spite of promises to the contrary with 44 members is
bloated. It holds some surprises. The former Minister of Finance credited
with turning around the economy in Malawi, returns as Minister of Local
Government and a relatively unknown figure fills the post of Minister
of Finance. Only 11 of those who held Cabinet posts prior to the elections
return. One cannot but wonder in how far a leaner Cabinet would translate
into less costs and more development. Because development remains the
'mantra' of the president and his DPP. One further wonders if the way
our ministers are treated is in line with Malawi still belonging to the
ten poorest nations on earth. The number of cars put at each minister's
disposition is completely out of synch with the poverty levels in Malawi.
One also wonders if some of the expenses incurred bringing Mercedes Benz
vehicles into the country are not part of the Forex crisis which was already
being complained about as early as May, June? We often hear that the president
dreams in colour. But one wonders if dreaming in colour should not mean:
no more Mercedes vehicles for ministers (refer to the example of Kenya
with a much more robust economy than Malawi), repairs of railways as a
way to the sea, both Beira and Nacala instead of a world port and waterway,
awakening the potential in the people at the grassroots instead of the
discourse that speaks about bringing development.

Quota and Division
One commentator has called the year 2009 an "annus horribilis"
for the president. The launch of the quota system of selection of entrants
to the university or equitable selection of students for the university
as others would like to call it, estranges the people from the North who
voted so unanimously for Bingu. One of the campaigners Harry Mkandawire
who was rewarded with the post of deputy director of political affairs
in the DPP, writes an open letter to the president and is sacked. Even
while he has made it utterly clear that he will return to his Ndatha Farm
in 2014, the president told his cabinet in no uncertain terms that they
should not start campaigning for his position. Almost at the same time
he told everyone that his brother Peter could stand for any function in
the land since he is a Malawian, even the presidency. This has led many
to think that a dynasty is being created.

Forex and Fuel
Towards the end of the year both Forex and fuel run out. The people cuing
up for fuel at the pumps have ample time to discuss the reasons for all
this. The economy suffers as is evident in the newspaper-reports about
laying off workers and even closing businesses and firms. The IMF has
not yet given its nod for a new programme for Malawi which was followed
by some donor partners who have suspended their budget support till the
IMF gives its OK. Civil society was initially shocked by the initiative
of the president to appoint a number of its most critical and vocal members
to a special advisory council, Malawi Development Advisory Council MADAC.
It is not known who was asked and has refused, but some of those who accepted
have now come out in the open. Others wonder if this is a ploy to silence
the 'alternative opposition' since the opposition in parliament is already
very weak and thus it will mean a full go ahead for the executive with
little or no checks and balances to speak of. This seems to be implied
in the president's legal council Allan Ntata's comments, who said it is
against the constitution for civil society to want to have input in legislation.
He believes that this is the exclusive role of Parliament. The rest has
to wait till 2014 the time of new elections.

Natural Problems
At the same time there are worrisome signs that some parts of the country
have poor rains. This will reduce the effect of the efforts to subsidise
inputs, a policy that in the last three years led to bumper harvests and
a huge surplus of maize. All this while we hear much less complaints about
the coupon system, a sign that government might be getting it right. The
earthquakes in Karonga on the 9th December have led to an outpouring of
help from the general public, but remain a worry especially since there
were several quakes well throughout the month of December.

Majority Rule
Malawi is now setting a new step towards democracy: how to cope with a
large majority in Parliament. How to keep the separation of powers in
this new configuration. How to draw on the talent of the legislative,
with so many young MPs but also with so many MPs who are holders of degrees
and together represent a considerable amount of talent. Parliament which
since 2004 was blocked most of the time by the opposition, which may well
have contributed to the watershed victory of Bingu and his DPP, is now
working neck break speed. Bills are passed without sufficient scrutiny
and therefore the legislating function of Parliament, positively critiquing
the bills presented by the executive seems almost suspended. One of the
results is the debacle around the age at which girls are allowed to get
married. The President is called upon not to assent to the bill passed
in Parliament and to his credit returns to bill for further scrutiny.
Towards the end of the year there are some issues which have worried commentators:
the police bill which has been rushed through Parliament contains many
necessary and beneficial changes but also allows the police searches without
warrant and makes it hard for people to express their opinion through
public meetings and marches. Furthermore the Constitution has been changed
again and allows the sitting President to determine the date for the local
elections. For many this is tantamount to having no local elections at
all. Is our parliament only a rubberstamping 'August House': a 'nyumba
ya matamando' singing the praise of the executive? It is now left up to
the president who has been asked not to assent to these bills.

Father of the Nation and the Flag
One commentator gives some hints as to what should happen so that Malawi
can forge ahead on the road it has embarked and for the president to succeed.
"Bingu has still four years to prove that is as much a President
for the people in Ngerenge in Karonga as well as Goliati in Thyolo. He
can show that by avoiding statements that make him sound like a vengeful
jilted lover. Let him act, speak and behave like he is a father for all
of us from the hills of Chitipa to the valleys of Nsanje" (R. Tenthani
in the Sunday Times, 03-01-10) And we at the CFSC add: "a father
figure, with a vision, who can inspire all to draw on their own resources
and bring about lasting development."

Is the way forward to change the flag? Those in favour say Malawi has
developed enormously and therefore our flag which reflected aspirations
of newly independent people should change. But it seems there is a consensus
building up, which says: we have made progress and thank God for that.
But there remains so much to be done. Poverty is still rampant, roads
need maintenance, hospitals need medicine and devoted staff, schools need
infrastructure, dedicated, motivated teachers and books.

The gap between rich and poor should be reduced. This reflects probably
the aspirations of some 80% of the population. They find these expressed
in the old flag. The money saved by holding on to the old flag could well
be used for some of these aspirations. To say it again with the words
of R. Tenthani in the same newspaper: "It is only then that our national
flag and national anthem will begin to make sense ... again."

ECONOMY

2009 Budget
With a new parliament and cabinet in place the Mutharika administration
seemed to have started the year 2009 on a positive note. To begin with
President Bingu wa Mutharika an economic engineer as his followers fondly
called him during the 2004 campaign period, appointed economist Ken
Kandodo Banda as the new finance Minister. Kandodo took over the reigns
from Goodall Gondwe who gained the public's trust as the man who assisted
Mutharika in putting the country's economy right on track.

One of Kandodo's first duties was to present the National Budget in
the National Assembly. Fresh from the general election hustles, Kandodo
presented a K25.8 billion budget to members of the National Assembly.
Among other things the government adjusted upwards the salaries of civil
servants and removed duty on imported infant formulas. The tax-free
threshold was raised from MK9,000 to MK10,000, meaning that those whose
monthly income levels are below MK10,000 are not required to pay income
tax. However, much as this is a positive move as far as increasing disposable
income is concerned, the adjustment was too minimal. An ideal cut-off
would be the minimum monthly cost of food for an average Malawian family
living in towns. In 2008/09, this ranged between MK20,000 and MK25,000.
An income that is only enough to cover basic food costs should not be
taxed. However, the 2009/2010 Budget was commended and applauded by
many, including the civil society, the International Monetary Fund IMF
and the World Bank.

Unlike the previous Budget sessions, the 2009/2010 Budget session was
held in the most peaceful manner. The Budget votes and Bills were passed
without adequate debate because the government MPs were in the majority.
Although this is an advantage in that there wasn't too much wasting
of time and public resources in form of sitting allowances, it also
posed a danger of passing votes and Bills which might have required
some useful amendments. This did not please opposition Members of Parliament
and a cross section of civil society. The big question remains: Will
the 2009/2010 Budget implement all the activities contained in the Budget
as efficient as the session itself?

World Financial Crisis
The world financial crisis is one of the issues that featured highly
in the Malawi press in the year 2009. Being a 'least developed' country,
Malawi benefits a lot from the West in terms of donor funding. Malawi
was not an exception in being affected by the recession. While many
countries were negatively affected, Malawi actually benefited from it
through the falling World prices of fuel and fertilizer. The commercial
price of fertilizer dropped almost by 50%, increasing its affordability
to many Malawian smallholder farmers. Against this background Malawi
equally shared some of the problems from World financial crisis.
Most of Malawi's civil society organizations get their funding from
international organizations in the North that were severely affected
by the global financial crisis. This resulted into major cuts in the
levels of funding meant for civil society organizations. Some organizations
had to lay off some of their personnel while others were simply not
able to implement some of their planned activities. 2009 press reports
disclosed that other organizations were engaged more in videoconferences
as a cheaper alternative to physical travelling to convenient venues
of such conferences. There were also reports that some organizations
implemented expense-cutting measures such as, minimizing the usage of
company vehicles. Meanwhile, there are reports that recession is easing
in some parts of the West.

Forex
The year 2009 has not been an easy year as far as Forex reserves are
concerned in Malawi. A forex shortage was announced as early as January
but the Reserve Bank of Malawi wore a brave face and assured the nation
that all was well. As the year progressed, the country witnessed the
Reserve Bank telling the nation that the situation is under control.
Despite the fact that even local cross boarder traders were failing
to access Forex in bureaus and in commercial banks, the central bank
let the nation down by maintaining that there was enough foreign exchange
in the economy.

It all came clear early this year that indeed there was shortage of
Forex when the same Reserve Bank announced that the imports cover had
gone down to 1.3 months. Malawi being a net-importing country, 1.3 months
of imports cover is simply too low. Malawi's growing manufacturing sector
relies heavily on Forex for importation of raw materials for its survival.
The current foreign exchange crisis could kill this important sector
which is supposed to support the agricultural sector for development
to continue.

Like all politicians who always put the blame on others President Bingu
wa Mutharika accused foreigners who are doing business in Malawi for
the Forex shortage. President Mutharika did not mince words when he
spoke of the Forex shortage as being man-made. He pointed an accusing
finger at the Asians who he said siphon off the much-needed Forex to
their respective countries.

This was supported by press reports that also featured a few articles
that revealed a number of foreigners were caught with some illegal Forex
at Kamuzu International Airport. Later during the year the President
restricted the number of annual external trips for all civil servants
as one way of preserving the country's hard earned Forex. To this effect,
President Mutharika had to cancel his own official external trip as
a way of living by example.

Meanwhile some experts feel the many foreign trips for the president
and his entourage also contributed a lot to the Forex shortage. They
are also of the same opinion that government officials who travel too
often on foreign trips are also part of the cause. Some analysts blamed
the recent purchase of numerous Mercedes cars for ministers and a new
presidential jet as the major cause of the country's Forex shortage.

EPAs
Malawi's stand on the Economic Partnership Agreement EPAs still remained
the same in the year 2009. The country will not sign the EPAs in their
current form. 2009 reports on EPAs disclosed that in a group of 16 countries,
most countries had already signed the interim agreement but Malawi has
not signed even the interim agreement. This development has been commended
by civil society organization who are also advocating for a no to the
EPAs.
Although Malawi has not signed the interim agreement of the EPAS the
European Union EU still insists that the EPAs are a good arrangement
for a developing country like Malawi. 2009 reports show that Malawi
is still negotiating with other countries the same EPAs. However, it
is reported that it has not been an easy task because some of the countries
in the Eastern Southern Africa ESA region have already signed part of
the agreement. This is what those in favour of signing feel will put
Malawi in an awkward situation.

The press in the year also showed that the government was commissioning
a study/consultancy that would draw recommendations on whether or not
Malawi should sign EPAs. Results of the consultancy, if indeed commissioned,
are yet to be known.

Tobacco
2009 tobacco season was not as smooth as one would have expected. Coming
from a year of good sales in 2008 many farmers increased the volume
of their tobacco hoping to get good prices from the sale. This was not
to be because the sales of the gold leaf failed to impress many farmers
resulting into a number of interruptions. Among other things the farmers
expressed dissatisfaction on the prices their leaf was fetching on the
market. Despite Mutharika setting the buying prices of tobacco in the
year 2008, the buyers still bought the crop at much lower prices.
The tobacco industry faced more hiccups in 2009 than in the previous
year. Among other things the tobacco industry witnessed the deportation
of some foreign tobacco bosses. They were accused of duping farmers
by buying tobacco at very low prices despite the good quality of the
leaf. Although Mutharika's government deported the bosses some observers
feel there is a lot that should be done if the problems in the tobacco
industry are to be solved. At the same time some farmers were against
the deportation. Tobacco is at presence the main foreign exchange earner
of Malawi. It contributes to more than 60% of Forex in Malawi. However
the opening of the Kayelekera Mine in Karonga is expected to also help
in boosting the economy.

Fuel
The beginning of the year saw the decrease in price of fuel globally.
This situation forced the then Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe to
bow down to pressure from civil society and other groups to cut the
price of fuel in Malawi. After weeks of talks about the possibilities
of cutting the prices, an announcement was made to that effect. With
the reduction in fuel prices people expected a change in some of the
services. The reduction in the prices of transportation costs should
also have meant prices of goods going down. But to the contrary only
a few services cut down their prices like the bus fares.
However as the year progressed Malawi faced the first ever fuel shortage
in decades. This resulted in congestions at gas stations and increased
problems of transport. To make matters worse some illegal fuel sellers
took advantage of the shortage to make quick easy money by charging
exorbitant prices to motorists. A number of organizations and observers
took government to task for failing to take care of the problem that
took almost three weeks.

Inflation Rate
Malawi's inflation rate continued its downward trend in the year 2009.
Among other things the National Statistical Office NSO attributed the
availability of food in the country. The inflation rate reached 7.4
% in some months in the just ended year. Experts however noted that
as the inflation rate is going down prices of food crops should also
go down so that it matches with the rate.

FOOD SECURITY

Food Situation
In January, stories on food shortage continued to dominate press coverage
in Malawi. There were still some disagreements between the government
and other stakeholders who felt there were massive food shortages in Malawi.
Photos of starving people had appeared in the press they all agreed that
they had no food. The government still stood by its statement that there
was plenty food in the country.

Newsreaders were shocked with news about the food shortages. It was reported
that people in Machinga were buying madeya (maize husks) for food. At
the same time people in Dedza were now exchanging their bicycles for maize
in Mozambique due to an acute shortage of maize in the district. Surprisingly
officials kept saying there was plenty of food in the country.

The press in January also disclosed that prices of maize might go up
during year. Centre for Social Concern CfSC, a faith-based organization,
felt that the fact that the world is currently facing food shortages this
would also befall poor Malawians. This would result in high costs that
the poor might find very hard to cope up with. A survey conducted by CfSC
had shown that every year the price of maize continues to go up. Therefore,
the same was expected to happen. Although government introduced a fixed
price for maize in the country some traders still sold it at whatever
price they wished.

New Price for Subsidized Fertilizer
President Bingu wa Mutharika announced that Malawians should expect the
price of fertilizer to be reduced during this coming growing season and
he indeed reduced it to MK500 per 50kg bag. Government was commended for
cutting the price of subsidized fertilizer, so that the needy can access
the farm input.
President Bingu wa Mutharika, has successfully run the subsidized fertilizer
programme and the results are what people are seeing in their fields to
date though with some hiccups here and there during the distribution of
fertilizer coupons to the needy.

Maize's Set Price
The Malawi government in the month of April announced the prices of crops.
After reports of exploitation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
announced new prices of selling and buying crops mainly maize, which is
Malawi's staple food. According to the ministry this move is to help stop
unscrupulous traders from exploiting the poor farmers. The ministry has
set the prices at MK55 per kilogramme of maize. This is the price that
farmers had to sell their grain.

Although government announced this buying price of maize recent reports
had shown Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation ADMARC was
not yet ready to buy maize. According to ADMARC, some farmers do harvest
their maize when it is not fully dry. Authorities at the grain market
feel buying the maize when is not dry would end up destroying the maize
because it is kept for a long time.

Although government had set the price of maize at MK55/kg some months
ago, observers noted that some traders were selling the grain at any price
they wished contrary to government's announcement. As it is always the
case in the lean months of January, February and March, a number of households
ran out of the grain thereby increasing the demand of maize locally. The
situation forces traders to raise the price of grain unnecessarily. A
monthly survey by the Centre for Social Concern revealed that some traders
were selling the grain at K5,000 per 50kg bag, which is twice as much
as the government's set price.

Reduction of Fertilizer Prices
In April the Agricultural Trading Company ATC came up with sweet music
to people's ears when it announced reduced prices of the farm input. The
company slashed the prices of fertilizer by almost half. For instance
Calcium Ammonium Nitrate CAN is going at K4,330 down from K7,200. Observers
had commended ATC and asked other companies who sell fertilizer to emulate
this example.

Rice Situation
With the harvesting season of rice in Malawi observers noted that the
prices had fallen. Rice, which is also regarded as one of the main foods
in many people's homes, is usually harvested in the months of May to July.
Reports had shown that the grain was now selling at very low prices.

During the month of June, reports on food security had shown that the
government would not impose a maize ban during the year. This had happened
because of the bumper harvest that Malawi had experienced. Last year government
imposed a ban stopping farmers from selling their produce, mainly maize,
to private traders. This was one way of making sure that households have
enough maize to sustain them till the next harvest. Experience had shown
that the same private traders who buy the crop from the farmers at a very
low price came back in lean months of December to March to sell the grain
at exaggerated prices.

Parliamentarians Views on Food Security
Despite reports of a bumper harvest, Members of Parliament from several
areas in Malawi expressed concern the over shortages of food in their
areas. Speaking in the National Assembly legislators took turns in commending
President Bingu wa Mutharika for making food security his priority but
observed that people in some areas were still starving. Reports had shown
that some Malawian citizens were suffering amid plenty of food that the
country is boasting about. It should be noted that Malawi has 1.2 million
tones of maize surplus.

Livestock Production
Malawi with so much maize that had been harvested, other sectors had also
experienced tremendous growth. Media reports disclosed that there was
also an increase in the fish production, the number of cattle had also
increased from 600,000 to 950,000 and a fall in goat production. Other
reports had also shown an increase in the poultry industry. With a good
harvest, the number of poultry in the country was expected to continue
increasing due to expected availability of animal feed.

Universal Fertilizer Subsidy
Debates on whether government should introduce universal subsidy or not
made headlines in July. There had been different views being heard from
the August House. According to some members of the government were still
of the view that it was good for government to continue with the current
targeted farm inputs. Some experts had noted that it is almost impossible
for Malawi, whose economy is still staggering, to introduce Universal
Fertilizer Subsidy Programme. Examples are known of some developed countries
that have excelled in food security and have never implemented a universal
subsidy.

Maize Marketing
Now, months after farmers had harvested their crops they had nowhere to
sell their produce. According to reports the situation left people with
no option but to sell their produce to unscrupulous traders. These private
traders were reaping where they did not sow as they were buying maize
at as low as K25 per kilogram. Because the farmers were so desperate to
get some money, they were forced to sell the grain at this low price.
By this month, ADMARC, which is the main grain marketer, had not yet opened
its markets.

Following cries from farmers who were wondering when the ADMARC depots
were going to open, the grain marketer finally opened its markets in August.
One reason mentioned was lack of space in the depots and warehouses leading
to buying only maize and no other farm produce. This means farmers had
nowhere to sell their other crops like groundnuts, beans, soya, cotton
and many more farm produce. Farmers had to resort to selling the crops
to private traders who most of the times exploited them.

Coupon Distribution
With the farming season approaching the Ministry of Agriculture announced
that it would make sure that the distribution of coupons would be done
in good time. Reports had shown that there had been a number of shortfalls
that the targeted farm input programme has faced in the past. Ranging
from shortage of coupons and bad distribution the ministry was going to
raise the awareness of farmers so that they know the features of the coupons.

The press in the month of September disclosed that beneficiaries of this
year's farm input subsidy programme would be using their Voter Identification
Cards. This time around the government wanted to fight reports of ghost
villages and beneficiaries. The use of the Voter IDs would surely assist
in eliminating cheating of any kind but it has sidelined those who are
entitled to receive the coupons but did not participate in the general
election because of their religious beliefs and for other reasons.
The Farmers Union of Malawi FUM in the month under review applauded the
government for the targeted farm input programme but noted that there
was still room for improvement. The Union feels the Ministry of Agriculture
could do better in the area of distribution of farm inputs.

Agricultural Fair for 2009
President Bingu wa Mutharika in the month of August opened the National
Agricultural Fair in Blantyre. Mutharika whose government strives at making
Malawi a hunger free nation opened the fair where different farmers showcased
their crops and other agricultural products. He is also reported to have
encouraged farmers to use modern farming technologies like irrigation.
With irrigation farmers can be assured of bumper yields. Food security
is a requirement for people to be able to participate fully in developmental
activities.

Storage of Maize Surplus
As Malawians are enjoying another year of bumper harvest the Malawi Economic
Justice Network MEJN had noted that there was a lot of surplus maize that
needed attention. In a survey that the organisation conducted it found
that this maize if left unattended would eventually rot and that there
would be a loss. People had so much maize and to make matters worse ADMARC
announced it would not be able to buy a lot of it because of a lack of
funds. MEJN asked members of parliament to look into the problem and come
up with solutions.
Despite another year of bumper yields some citizens are still facing storage
problems. Food security reports in July had shown that some of the harvest
is lost during storage because of lack of suitable facilities. Perhaps
this is the reason why people in Mzimba district have engaged in building
maize storage banks in their villages. The villagers in Mzimba want to
make sure that there is food security in their area. They feel the village
storage banks will help them when there is food shortage in the area.

Food Security Awards
There were exiting news from various corners of the world about Malawi's
food security status. In recent months a number of awards had been given
to Malawi for the food situation. As the world commemorated the World
Food Day an international organization called Actionaid had released a
list of countries that were really fighting hunger and Malawi was on position
5.

2009 Fertilizer Delivery Hiccups
This year's fertilizer delivery has been with more problems than previous
ones. This year the distribution had been affected by a shortage of fuel,
and other problems that seem to be slowing down the delivery of the farm
input.

Rainfall Situation
Another problem which has affected agricultural sector is the erratic
rainfall. The rains had generally been late this season country wide although
Met experts had predicted good rains this season. A wide range of areas
are experiencing drought with some areas having maize crop withered or
dried up.

Green Belt Initiative
Parliament during its sitting in the month of November passed the Green
Belt Bill. Unlike some bills that take a long time to be debated both
sides of the National Assembly were for the Green Belt. Among other things
the Green Belt will help Malawi to be a food secure nation for life if
properly managed. Against this background the MPs passed the bill that
will see government borrowing money from the International Development
Association to fund the project.

CIVIL SOCIETY AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS

Social Issues
Social issues beside the heavy political agenda of 2009 were as usual
part of civil society and religious groups concern. The CCAP Church celebrated
this year the 150 anniversary of Dr David Livingstone's arrival in Malawi.
It is remembered that he contributed to the fall of slavery in that part
of the world. Nevertheless child labour and exploitation of tenants are
still rampant in many estates of Malawi. To fight these evils CFSC has
been working with other partners since a long time for the passing of
tenancy labour bill. Some MP's are estate landlords and are reluctant
to pass it. According to the National Office of Statistics the economic
level of the people is improving in the Northern region but in the Southern
Region more than 50% of the population is under the poverty threshold.
In January the Public Affairs Committee PAC asked government to come up
with statements on the food situation amid rumours that some people are
starving. The government denied any sign of hunger in the country.

Electricity and Water
Following the persistent blackouts and water shortages that Malawi faces
the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce MCCI, asked the responsible
ministers to resign but they refused. After a long and tough court case
the Consumer Association of Malawi CAMA managed to get Electricity Supply
Commission of Malawi ESCOM to change its slogan from "Power all day,
every day" to "Towards Power all day, every day". Malawi
Economic Justice Network MEJN asked for a probe on reports that ESCOM
blew over K80 million for a party and gifts last Christmas. The body also
spent K12 million to buy a car for their board Chairman.

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace CCJP in September announced
findings of a survey they conducted on Kayerekera mine in Karonga district.
It shows that the water that people drink at the mine is contaminated.
There might be a possibility of uranium spilling into Lake Malawi.

Cut Backs
Due to the global financial crisis The Council for Non Governmental Organisation
of Malawi CONGOMA, noted that there has been a decrease in the funding
from international donors to the local organisations. The principal of
the College Polytechnic declared that NGOs should be accountable and need
to declare their assets. Nobody denied it. An NGO in Salima was asking
K20,000 against a promise of job. It has been closed since then.

Unity and Division
Religious Groups had ups and downs in 2009: The Public Affairs Committee
PAC condemned the violence that happened in the Zambezi Evangelical Church
in Manja, Blantyre. According to the Principal Secretary of Nutrition
and HIV/AIDS, religious groups deny homosexuality in Malawi and this hinders
the fight against AIDS. The birthday of Prophet Muhamed, peace be upon
him, was an occasion for inter-faith rejoicing. The Easter way of the
cross was once again celebrated not only by the Catholics but also by
the Anglicans and the Pentecostals.

The Pre Elections
Political issues facing civil society were plenty and heavy. During the
pre elections: At different occasions and coming from different religions
the clergy prayed for peace during the elections. The Catholic Bishops
published a booklet of homilies notes for Lent, the Nkhoma Synod published
a statement, both calling to choose just and honest candidates for the
elections. Saint Egidio also called for free and fair elections whereas
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation CHRR emphasized the need to
have a campaign free of violent words and acts.

The Malawi Elections Support Network MESN and the opposition proposed
that the electoral body Malawi Electoral Commission MEC should have a
separate tally centre but the government refused.
The Civil Liberties Committee CILIC denounced the Democratic Progressive
Party DPP primary elections as not fairly conducted in some areas. Non-Governmental
Organizations NGOs advised major parties to consider taking female candidates
as running mates. As if responding to that call the DPP chose Joyce Banda
as first ever presidential running mate.
Dr Bingu wa Mutharika promised that he would not imitate his predecessors
during electoral campaign. Despite that the government fired Inspector
General IG of Police because he dared to oppose the use of the police
music band at a political rally instead of being used at official state
functions. The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation CHRR criticized
the government for the use of its vehicles to ferry people to and from
almost each of the ruling DPP functions. Even at state functions party
slogans are chanted. 98% of Malawi Broadcastion Corporation MBC and Television
Malawi TVM airtime are used to cover the government or DPP activities,
the remaining 2% are used to criticize the opposition.

The Malawi Law Commission announced that the presidential aspirants are
not eligible to stand if they continue being Members of Parliament. Others
said that the aspirants will be free to do so because by then there will
be no parliament.
The Malawi Electoral Commission announced the results of the presidential
aspirants mid March: Dr Bakili Muluzi was disqualified on the ground that
he already served two terms as president. This weakened considerably the
UDF party.

The Elections Results
Civil Society and foreign observers commended the Malawi Electoral Commission
for having conducted the elections in a free and fair manner. Malawi Human
Rights Consultative Committee MHRCC congratulated Bingu wa Mutharika for
being re-elected as President. The Malawi Council of Churches MCC asked
opposition leader John Tembo who is also President of the Malawi Congress
Party MCP to concede defeat and congratulate President Bingu wa Mutharika
as the winner of the 2009 Presidential Election. On the contrary John
Tembo challenged the results in court despite slim chances of winning
anything. Some weeks before the results the Public Affairs Committee PAC
had announced its stand against rushing into the swearing in of the President.
In fact Bingu wa Mutharika swore in the day after the official results.

The Civil Liberties Committee in the month of May noted that although
civic education was done before the general election, civic education
should be an ongoing exercise. Even with minimal resources civil society
managed to carry out voter and civic education, encouraging voters to
register and turn out for voting more than in 2004 by a wide margin.

The Post Elections Parliamentary Affairs
The Commission for Justice and Peace CCJP commended the appointment of
Honourable Henry Chimunthu Banda as the Speaker of the National Assembly
because he stood firm during the heated debates that were a daily occurrence
in the last Parliament.

The Council for Non-Governmental Organisations of Malawi CONGOMA urged
the current Parliament to deal with the controversial Sections 65 (MP's
crossing the floor) and 83 (Presidential tenure) of the Malawi Constitution
so far without result.
CCJP found that Parliament failed to do its duties to its full potential
during the last presidential mandate. On the conduct of new Parliament
on the first 100 days, it faults the Democratic Progressive Party DPP
who abuses its majority position by bulldozing issues like the budget
no matter how important without much debate. Centre for Human Rights and
Rehabilitation (CHRR) is asking the Opposition to play their role of providing
checks and balances to the government instead of rubber-stamping whatever
comes.

During the campaign period the Malawi Congress Party MCP leader John
Tembo announced that he would be more democratic. Surprisingly he endorsed
the sacking of the party's spokesperson Ishmael Chafukira for saying things
in the media that did not please the party and John Tembo. The Centre
for Human Rights and Rehabilitation reminded that such evidence shows
that he has not changed.

The new MCP spokesperson Nancy Tembo complained about Civil Society's
silence concerning the absence of an opposition leader, accusing the DPP
of wanting to divide the party by all means.

Other Points of Concern had to be Addressed
The Malawi Electoral Support Network MESN said that despite the fact that
there is an allocation for the 2010 local government polls, there have
not been any meetings by Cabinet to discuss them, there is no calendar
for the elections and the Electoral Commission has not accredited any
organisation to carry out civic education. Furthermore the government
wants a bill that will give the president powers to choose when he wants
local government elections to be held. This would give the president too
much power. There are currently no councillors in Malawi.

Contrary to his words Mutharika on many occasions commented on issues
that are still in courts. Also he announced that his brother Peter is
free to contest for any position even that of president in this country.
The Nkhoma Synod of the Church of Central African Presbyterian CCAP has
asked to leave that issue to a DPP convention.
The death penalty remains in the Malawi Constitution but ever since Malawi
became a multiparty state no one has ever been hanged despite some people
being on death row. The Malawi Human Rights Consultative Committee HRCC
feels we should avoid chances that another president could decide to sign
it in the near future. So the death penalty should be removed from the
Constitution.

Civil Society is a right holder, especially journalists and the academia
to access information from public officers who are the duty bearers to
be accountable about their service. All concerned parties await the passing
of the information bill so that Malawians can enjoy a free flow of information.

Besides traditional leaders, the police are also among some of the people
involved in corruption. According to the Anti Corruption Bureau ACB, the
Police's involvement in corruption cases has damaged the image and the
trust that people have in the organisation.

At the African Synod, the bishops asked corrupt top government officials
to either repent or quit, when cases of corruption in public offices are
being reported in the press almost every day in Malawi. But some say that
it does not apply to Malawi.

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

As the year winds up, media reports have so far covered a number of events
that took place on social and cultural life. A lot of debate has been
focused on the reasons why such events happened. One major concern was
the unclear boundaries between politics and cultural traditions which
has become part of life today - every one sees it as normal. During the
year media reports analyzed this situation and other important issues
that made headlines.

Should Politics be Involved in or Guide Our Traditional Practices
Today?
During the year media reports have raised concerns on how politics have
interfered with traditional customs. From what has happened one would
say that Malawi's traditional leadership is at the mercy of political
regimes. It has become normal practice that politicians or the Head of
State appoint or promote the authority of chiefs in different parts of
the country. These promotions have often gone along with salary review
and at different levels the perks for chiefs have been increased handsomely.

Unfortunately, in most of these appointments or promotions succession
lines have not been observed. What matters more is their loyalty and affiliation
to the ruling parties. Those chiefs who did not tow the line of the government
of the day have often been neglected in the development agenda; let alone
some favours from government. Today politicians have control over traditional
leaders - they have threatened to demote those seemingly not loyal. On
the other hand, those who take the dictates of the ruling government have
benefited enormously materially. They received more such gifts in the
run-up to the last general elections in May where they were heavily used
in campaigning for different political parties. This situation calls for
a lot of questions one of which is the role of traditional authorities
in safeguarding traditional customs. Is this the desired situation? If
not, is it reversible? It depends on all of us especially our political
leaders.

The Marriage Age of the Girl Child -16
The nation and the public were alarmed when the new crop of our legislators
passed a bill that put the girl child at the risk of getting married at
sixteen years of age. Experts including the Family Panning Association
of Malawi FPSM have reacted angrily to this move that puts the girl child
at ransom. The danger of starting family life at this early age is that
the bodies of these girls are not mature enough to endure pregnancy and
childbirth. The situation will lead to more maternal deaths thereby defeating
the progress that has already been made on the Millennium Development
Goals MDGs on safe motherhood and maternal deaths.

The passing of this bill contradicts all commendable efforts by the Ministry
of Education who campaign to promote equal attainment of education between
boys and girls. This is the period when most girls are supposed to be
at secondary school. The bill if assented to by the Head of State will
have negative effects on poverty-stricken families whose sole alternative
will be for their girls to get married. There will be more school dropouts
at different stages of learning.

More than just passing the bill hurriedly, one looks at the level of
debate in the house which did not take into account the views of the constituents.
Our parliamentarians need to be more focused. How would they feel if other
people were deciding the married age of their daughters? It is important
to think and reflect before making serious amendments to our constitution
because it is the law of the land that guides all of us.

At the level of society, the press reports have carried stories of certain
traditional customs that still perpetuate the rapid spread of diseases
such as HIV/AIDS. There is a lot of campaigning against the trend has
been done, but certain sections of society still feel it is one way of
keeping their traditions. The media reports sampled Kupimbira of Karonga
(forcing young girls to get married to older men in payment of debt) of
the northern region and kuchotsa fumbi (after initiation of especially
girls, one old man, called fisi which means a hyena is supposed to sleep
with the young girls). These practices are refusing to disappear or die
and they have facilitated the spread of HIV/AIDS. Our people still do
not seem to learn any lessons from this unwarranted practice.

Human Trafficking for Labour and Sexual Exploitation
The Day of the African Child, "L'enfant Noir", was celebrated
amid gross abuse of children in different forms. This day should be a
reminder that children have the right to basic amenities in life and their
continued abuse is a crime against humanity. A number research papers
have revealed gross abuses in the tobacco estates, a situation that poses
a major challenge. One imagines that instead of going to school, children
are kept busy in the farms working on behalf of their parents without
pay. Further to this violation is that they are subjected to dangers as
they work on the estates. They are exposed to the green leaf and nicotine
effects in the process of growing, selecting, grading and bailing the
crop. In addition to this cheap labour mothers also work on behalf of
the husband and they are also exposed to the same dangers. It has been
reported in one meeting convened by the Centre for Social Concern that
one woman gave birth while working on the farm, a situation that explains
how poor the working and living conditions are in these areas. From this
development one concludes that women are not entitled to maternity leave
and/or any decent medial attention. Visit to many of these farms showed
that schools and clinics are too far, not easily accessible.
The practice of human trafficking which is present, though hidden, in
Malawi has seen the suffering of young women and men who have been betrayed
by their own relatives and friends to travel from their villages in search
for better life in towns/cities. The majority have ended up in serious
sexual exploitation. There have been reports of trafficking taking place
both within Malawi and across the borders to the disadvantage of poor
people who are deceived because of poverty. Children are often trafficked
to tobacco estates within Malawi and they are recruited on their own.

Besides the Tumbuka, Ngoni and Chewa as recognized tribal groupings in
Malawi, during the year the media reports covered the coming together
of yet another tribe - Lomwe. While it is important to promote tribal
affiliations, the Muhlako wa Ahlomwe came with mixed reactions. Firstly,
it was the only tribe that was heavily sold in the media and on the radio
then, a situation that attracted jealous from the already existing tribal
groups. The media went further to question its patronage, the Head of
State was not normally supposed to be leader of the newly found tribal
grouping because the public saw this position as being biased towards
one tribe while the expectation is that he is the patron of all the tribes
in the country. Again, being of that tribal affiliation, it became obvious
that people would think he aligned himself more with the Muhlako wa Ahlomwe
than other tribes. One would therefore suggest that while supporting his
tribe in whatever way, a prominent chief should have been chosen patron
because it is not a political grouping. The coming in of the head of state
as patron removed the flavour, because as long as the president is present
at its gatherings, some political officials are also expected to accompany
him. This is a normal procedure for the president to be accompanied, and
when these officials travel, they use government vehicles which are part
of the public resources that should be exclusively used for government
intended purposes.

On the same development, commentators have further analyzed and cited
examples where the national cake is not shared equally - Quota System
in public appointments has not been adhered to. There has been a growing
concern that the Lhomwe belt has grabbed most of the senior and public
positions at the disadvantage of people of other regions. Does this situation
look at merit as a criterion for job distribution across the board? This
development will further widen the gap between tribal groups.

What Has Been Happening in Blantyre is Strange
The mysterious attacks on people by both known and unknown individuals
at Ndirande and other townships in Blantyre have always been a major concern
to many Malawians. It is seemingly difficult to understand why gruesome
things are done during the day and at night to innocent people who are
supposed to live peacefully. This animalistic behaviour or tendency has
chiefly targeted female or child-head families that are normally unprotected.
Most of these have lost their lives. One of the famous people nicknamed
Nachipanti has apparently revealed names of people who mastermind all
these worrisome activities that target women and children in the townships
- these individuals hold senior positions in public and private sectors.
Nachipanti may just be an agent who gets his bread from torturing and
killing people on behalf of his maters, and it is doubtful whether this
practice will finally come an end looking at the calibre of people involved.

Madonna's Adoption and Contribution to Malawi

It is clear from the reports that the second adoption of poor Mercy by
Madonna attracted less attention though some critics continued to give
their views. Should they have made all that noise if a Malawian adopted
the two children? Would there have been so much publicity including international
media houses? What makes this issue so unique? We are all called to think
and reflect about it. What about the Girls Academy Secondary School that
Madonna is building in the outskirts of Lilongwe, is it in good faith
or is it intended to answer some questions raised by concerned Malawians?
However one interprets these facts, it is apparent that when one interacts
or criticizes a famous figure they make a name - they become popular either
as an individual or as an organization.

EDUCATION

Back to School

In 2009 the media reported a number of issues touching education. A positive
development was of teenage mothers being encouraged to go back to school.
In South West Division 72 teenage mothers went back to school. The Ministry
of Education is to include school feeding programme in its budget. All
this geared towards curbing school dropouts and to increase enrolment
in the schools. The Malawi Examinations Board MANEB put up measures to
curb cheating during examinations, some of the measures introduced were
introducing stiff penalties to those who do not comply with the examinations
rules. MANEB also confirmed that 118,000 candidates will sit for 2009
MSCE examination and noted that there has been an increase of 3,000 candidates.
These indeed are positive indicators in education.

Poor Education

While positive issues emerged in the education sector it is also worthwhile
to note that there have been issues that will have a negative impact on
the education standards in Malawi. The World Conference on Higher Education
which took place in from 5-8th July 2009, Paris, France observed that
Malawi's secondary and higher education is the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Malawi's Education Minister Dr George Chaponda attended the conference.

A joint study conducted by Malawi Human Rights Commission and Action
Aid on Laws, Policies, and Regulations in Education observed that Malawi's
laws on education are weak. In the Malawi Constitution section 25 stipulates
the right of education for all however the government fails to make education
compulsory.
It was also reported that sexual harassment of the girl child still on
the increase. An observation was made that Malawi does not have a written
policy on sexual harassment.

New School Year

There has been a debate to go back to the old school calendar. The issue
of reverting to the old school calendar re-surfaced in 2008. The school
calendar was changed in 1990's due to persistent water shortages in Zomba.
The water problem was solved but it is interesting to note that the school
calendar was not changed after solving the problem. In 2009 the Ministry
of Education was not ready to go back to the old school calendar but the
issue re-surfaced during the 2009 presidential and parliamentary elections
campaigns.

During the official closing of the Community Impact Exposition Week organised
by the University of Malawi Students Union, which took place in October
2009, Dr Gorge Chaponda announced that the government has changed the
school calendar. The change was to harmonise the Malawi Academic calendar.
The school calendar will start from September and end in June the following
year. The 2009/2010 will be a transitory year. The transitory academic
year started on 7 December 2009 and will end September 2010.

While appreciating the control of private schools' uncountable terms
in a year, the change of the school calendar has affected people negatively,
both in terms of finances and also the syllabus. For instance, this year's
Form 4s will write their exams in June 2010, in five months time, there
is still a lot to be covered, this group will be the most affected and
they will certainly contribute to dwindling down of education standards.

Quota Selection or Division?
Another sensitive issue that has generated a lot of debate in education
sector and countrywide is the quota system also known as equitable distribution
of resources. This development has widened the ethno-religious/regional
gap especially between the north against the centre and the south.

Historically, the quota system was once technically introduced under
the one party regime where every district was supposed to produce 10 quality
candidates to university and this was based on merit. In 1989 all teachers
were called to teach in their region of origin, a development that was
a catalyst to divide people on regional lines. Noticing that the system
was not practical because there were so many teachers from the north who
could not be accommodated in the region, the unpalatable decision was
rescinded discretely and teachers were re-deployed back to where there
was need without necessarily looking at the region where one came from.
Obviously during the referendum this was one of the issues that Malawians
voted against - ethno-regional discrimination.

Today the Quota system has re-surfaced after 15 years into a democracy.
It is seemingly a hot issue and has raised a lot of debate. Instead of
providing space for quality debate on equal access vs. merit, the proposal
was carried to be implemented even when it was still under judicial review.
While the public were meant to believe that the quota system was meant
to promote equal access to tertiary learning, there is strong evident
that the system has even affected this year's form one selection. The
outcry by some quarters is based on 2009/2010 selection which has seen
more deserving candidates not finding their way to either national or
district secondary schools. The media reports have continued to comments
on the Ministry of Education's argument against the views expressed by
the Livingstonia Synod, which still holds that this year's selection has
been biased. One wonders whether we should dwell much on equal access
or concentrate on infrastructure development to accommodate more candidates.

Meanwhile Mzuzu Catholic Diocese has commissioned an inquiry to look
into 2009 form one selection. It is also important to note that the 2009
university selection list has not been released yet. There are no first
year students at Bunda College and they are going into the second semester.

Private Schools

Another issue that took centre stage in the education sector in the year
2009 is the inspection of private secondary schools. The Ministry of Education
engaged in private secondary school inspection exercise. Among other things
the Ministry was looking for the quality of teachers and their qualification.
Authorities also wanted to know if the teachers teaching in secondary
schools had the right qualification and also checked on infrastructure
and availability of teaching and learning materials. This exercise resulted
in more than 600 schools being closed. It also left some students with
no hope of finding places in the government certified private secondary
schools.

HEALTH

Killer Diseases
During the year 2009 the Malawi Government and civil society groups have
shown great seriousness in tackling top killer diseases such as malaria,
cholera, Tuberculosis and HIV and AIDS which afflict the nation relentlessly.
It has been proven that lack of sanitation, poor road infrastructure,
illiteracy, cultural beliefs and poverty are some of the reasons that
slow progress for Malawians to attain good health. In recent years Malawi
has experienced acute water shortages in its large towns due to constant
power failure and the people walk long distances to fetch water which
is found in dirty ponds. This is unbelievable when one comes to know that
two thirds of Malawi is covered by potable water. The result has been
cholera throughout the year. And Malawians are still waiting to know the
name of the strange disease which attacked residents of Neno district
and claimed 17 lives. American scientists were called to collect samples
and carry out tests and give us a feedback.

Malaria Hopes
Media reports reveal there have been several drugs such as quinine, chloroquine,
SPs and LA have been used in the continuing fight against malaria but
the disease has prevailed. Now a multi-million Kwacha malaria trial centre
has been built at Area 18 health centre in Lilongwe. This will become
the largest malaria vaccine trial in Africa. It is called the George Joaki
Centre, under the University of North Carolina. According to the project
study coordinator Tisungane Mvalo, 1,600 babies aged from 6 to 17 weeks
are targeted for the first trial and the second will target babies aged
between 5 to 17 months. Developing the malaria vaccine is critical to
defeating a disease that kills 300,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa.
According to World Health Organisation statistics, malaria kills 10,000
under-five children in Malawi every year.

Medical Staff
It is heartbreaking to learn from media reports that Malawi has the worst
doctor-population ratio in the world with more than 50,000 Malawians depending
on a single doctor. This sad scenario arises from the fact that the country
has only one College of Medicine and the intake has been low. According
to the Executive Director of the Malawi Health Equity Network Martha Kwataine,
the most crucial element in improving the number of doctors in the country
is to make sure that the doctors who are trained remain in government.
At the moment Turkmenistan leads the world with at least 150 citizens
sharing a single doctor with Cuba coming second best.

In a related situation media reports say Malawi lags behind in the number
of registered nurses who play an important role in supervising junior
nurses. It is said Malawi produces less than 200 registered nurses every
year, but according to the Director of National Organisation of Nurses,
Dorothy Ngoma, Malawi needs to increase the number to at least 1,000 a
year.

Maternal Morbidity
During the year 2009 media reports revealed Malawi competes with countries
which have been at war in terms of maternal death across the world. This
was disclosed by Special Advisor to the Norwegian Nurses Organisation
Michael Vitols. He said Malawi's figures compare with countries like Sierra
Leone, Somalia and Afghanistan, all of which have a history of years and
years of civil war. According to the Malawi Multiple Indicator Cluster
Survey this country has a neo-natal rate of 31 deaths per 1,000 live births
and a maternal rate of 807 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Despite the desperate situation that Malawi is facing regarding maternal
deaths, Malawi's Vice-President Joyce Banda has said her goal as African
Union Goodwill Ambassador for Safe Motherhood is to reduce maternal deaths
by half from the current 807 per 100,000 live births. It has been observed
that most maternal deaths occur when pregnant women are treated by traditional
birth attendants.

Mysterious Disease
During the year under review a strange disease broke out in border villages
of Malawi and Mozambique in Neno District. Initially after killing seventeen
people which included eight from Malawi and nine from Mozambique, samples
were taken and sent to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in
the United States for analysis. For a while the mysterious disease was
only known as the Neno disease from the place of origin. We now know that
actually the infection is in fact Typhoid fever. This was revealed by
Secretary of Health, Chris Kang'ombe. According to Kang'ombe, the infection
had taken a long time to diagnose because it kept changing characteristics
making it difficult for health experts to identify. Experts are still
working to find out factors that are causing persistence of the infection.
According to Kang'ombe, government is looking at issues of water and sanitation
and is making sure the people from the affected area follow correct hygiene
practices to combat the spread of the disease which in four months has
infected over 300 people and killed about 36 others so far. Symptoms of
the disease include a stiff neck, dehydration, fever, headache, joints
pain, abdominal discomfort and loss of voice.

Helping Our Neighbours
Malawi cannot afford to treat foreigners from neighbouring Tanzania, Zambia,
and Mozambique in its already congested hospitals and health centres.
Media reports have revealed hospitals and health centres along the borders
with Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia are being flooded with foreign patients
because of the free health care services. The Deputy Minister of Health
and Population Gloria Mwale, observed that patients from across the border
are not budgeted for. One other person Martha Kwataine, who is Director
of Malawi Health Equity Network, has said if the health services are provided
to our neighbours as a way of promoting our bilateral relationship, then
it is done in a wrong way because it is one sided. At the end of the day
it is Malawians who are going to bear the brunt when drugs are in short
supply. The system of treating foreigners in Malawi hospitals and health
centres is only benefiting the people who are running away from paying
for the heath services in their countries.

Children's Health
One area where Malawi seems to improve is under-five mortality rate, the
death of children aged five, which has continued to decline since 2008.
United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF estimates indicate that under-five
mortality in the country has decreased from 225 deaths per 1,000 live
births in 1990, to 100 per thousand in 2008. UNICEF report says progress
has been seen in every part of the world, and even in some of the least
developed countries like Malawi, which is one of ten high under-five mortality
countries that is now on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal
of a two-thirds reduction in under-five mortality between 1990 and 2015.
And in a related situation, unsafe abortion cases have contributed to
the country's high maternal mortality. Media reports indicate that 807
women who die for every 100,000 live births as maternal mortality, 24%
of them are due to cases of unsafe abortion. To compliment this a chief
in a village outside Zomba reported that in five and half months, eight
young girls in his 40,000 people administrative area had died of abortion
complications. So to in Mulanje where a chief reported that in 11 months,
five young girls had died from unsafe abortions. The list goes on as in
a small village north of Mangochi Boma 56 girls were expelled within one
year due to pregnancy. According to media reports severely restrictive
abortion laws, a clash between traditional cultural norms and religious
ideologies, poverty, the desire for young women to remain in school and
extra-marital pregnancy, are among the causes of unsafe abortions in Malawi.

Tuberculosis Control
Media reports in 2009 reveal that Malawi has about 29,000 TB cases every
year and 8,000 die of the disease. According to the National TB Control
Programme technical advisor Dr Daniel Nyangulu, TB remains one of the
top killer diseases in the country together with malaria and HIV and AIDS.
To combat this disease the National TB Control Programme has said it has
embarked on a campaign to provide universal access to TB testing and treatment
in the country.
According to the World Health Organisation WHO, Malawi only screens half
of those infected with TB and the country fell short of the WHO recommended
treatment success rate of 85% by at least 13%. Mr Nyangulu explains that
the TB Control Programme now offers active screening at its TB testing
centres and that means HIV testing is offered in combination with TB tests.

HIV and AIDS
Media reports of the year under review say HIV and AIDS in workplaces
has registered a big reduction in deaths caused by the epidemic. This
was disclosed by the Principal Secretary in the Office of the President
Dr Mary Shawa. She said according to 2004 statistics, about 240 people
were dying because of HIV and AIDS-related infections and now it's only
24 people dying each day. Shawa explained that government, realising the
threat that HIV and AIDS posed to the Civil Service, it allocated two
percent of Other Recurrent Transaction to HIV and AIDS workplace programme.

It has been observed that HIV and AIDS is prevalent among the youth because
of several reasons such as poverty, watching pornographic materials, peer
pressure, defilement and rape. All in all the Sub-Sahara region had an
estimated 22 million adults and children living with HIV by the end of
2007. In Malawi about a million people are living with the virus, that's
according to the National Aids Commission. When the epidemic was discovered
more than twenty years ago, the sufferers shunned to reveal it to the
public for fear of being stigmatised. It is encouraging today to see numerous
people living with HIV and AIDS coming in public places and confessing
they have the virus. Malawi has so far managed to reduce the national
prevalence rate from 14 percent to 12.

Cholera Outbreaks Continue
It is pleasing to note that the Ministry of Health has assured the people
of this country that the cholera outbreak which badly affected people
early in 2009 is now under control. While cholera is easily preventable
if people are hygienic in their families and communities, it can also
be fatal. Dirty drinking water from unsafe sources and lack of toilet
facilities are some of the commonest causes of cholera. It has also been
reported in the media that diarrhoea and pneumonia vaccines will soon
be introduced in Malawi. It is hoped pneumonia vaccine will first be available
in 2010 and by 2012 diarrhoea vaccine will follow. Over the years the
Lower Shire districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa have been focal places for
cholera and diarrhoea attacks because of floods, but in 2009 Lilongwe
experienced cholera attacks that claimed several lives. Consistent water
shortages due to power failures both in Blantyre and Lilongwe forced people
to fetch whatever water they could lay their hands on just to survive.

Beyond Belief - or not?
We cannot cap 2009 media reports without mentioning the Mulanje 'birth
stone' and the Ntcheu lady who saw light after 22 years on a sick bed.
Agnes Msolo from Mulanje District is said to have delivered a 300-gramme
stone with a piece of cloth attached to it after six months of pregnancy.
Experts who included doctors, geologists and cloth manufacturers said
both the stone and the piece of cloth were real. There is a general consensus
that Agnes might have inserted a stone in her birth canal out of desperation
of having no child after eight years of married life.
And a 71-year-old woman Esther Chiwindo from Ntcheu who had been sick
for 29 years and bedridden for 22 years was rescued from her ordeal by
a Salima based NGO known as Kuthandiza Osayenda Disability Outreach Kodo.
Esther has been paralysed by unknown disease since 1986 and was lying
on her ramshackle bed without a mattress. After 22 years she was able
to come out of her house on a wheel chair, thanks to Kodo. Esther comes
from Ben Tchauya village in Traditional Authority Kwataine.

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Degradation
In 2009, environmentalist and other concerned citizens continued to cry
foul over the environmental degradation that is rampart in the country.
The main culprit being deforestation which is fuelled by overdependence
on use of firewood and charcoal. It was reported in January that firewood
and charcoal selling is more than a lucrative business because there is
a ready market and at the same time it does not attract any tax from the
government. Chief Machinjiri of Blantyre advised government to boost rural
electrification programme as the main alternative to the use of firewood
and charcoal so as to curb deforestation in the country.

The President's launch of the National Tree Planting Season saw a number
of communities planting trees. Some observers noted that communities should
not abandon but continue to take care of the trees until they mature.
It is common practice that a number of organizations and communities plant
trees with pomp but fail to care for them. Against this background, some
organizations and individuals feel that extra care of trees from the nursery
till they mature is necessary if the tree planting exercise is going to
bear fruit.

The persistent electricity blackouts in the country prompted environmentalist
to complain in March. It was reported that a number of households, especially
in urban areas, resorted to using charcoal and firewood as a source of
energy thereby increasing the demand for the items.

Kayerekera
The other controversial issue that attracted the attention of the media
is the uranium mining project by Paladin at Kayerekera in Karonga. Government
went ahead to justify the project contrary to the views of environmentalists,
civil society and other interested parties. Much as Malawi needs a lot
of Forex, environmentalists felt government should have considered the
damage that uranium mining might cause to human beings and the environment
in the first place.

Chia Lagoon
Press reports also disclosed the effects of climate change in Malawi.
For example, it was reported that the Chia Lagoon in Nkhotakota has been
affected by climate change. For a long time the lagoon has benefited people
as a source of fish. Recent reports have shown that the temperatures at
times go beyond the normal daily temperatures. This affects life in the
Chia waters making it difficult for fish to live. Some environmentalists
are looking into ways of helping the Chia revert to its former state.

Environment and the Elections
As 2009 was a year of general elections, environmentalists bemoaned the
tendency of candidates to neglect environmental issues in their manifestos.
One could safely say that political parties neglected environmental issues
in their priorities of the 2009 campaign, a development that is worrisome
especially because of the looming climate change effects.

Climatic Ignorance
Press reports have disclosed that the news about climate change in Malawi
has left many people more confused than before. It is common knowledge
that a number of people in Malawi are illiterate. Now the mention of climate
change is not an easy concept for such people to understand. The illiterate
are not the only group that does not understand climate change but some
learned people have a similar problem. Environmental issues are rarely
discussed therefore not too many people have the necessary knowledge to
understand its consequences.

Media reports have disclosed that the change in climate has also left
people in some areas of the country to wonder what is happening to seasonal
patterns. For instance, people used to know or guess the rain patterns
but reports indicate that this is not the case any more. Similarly people
would know when to expect floods and in which areas. But recent experience
has shown that even in safe upland areas floods also do occur. This has
resulted in a lot of damage to people's homes and crops.

Combating Climate Change
The month of June saw Malawi commemorating the World Environmental Day.
Just like other countries around the world Malawi celebrated the day bearing
in mind the fact that issues of the environment are not given priority
most of the time. Among other things climate change was one of the issues
environmentalists took time to discuss. The Government also promised to
put in place policies that will help in combating climate change. This
announcement follows the call from environmentalists on the effects of
climate change that are currently affecting people. Officials from government
noted that combating climate change requires combined efforts from both
civil society and other organisations. Among other things government wants
to allocate funding to projects that would assist in the prevention of
climate change. Government has also plans to put in place laws that would
promote adaptation on climate change.

Njuli Quarry
Environmental reports have disclosed that people around Njuli Quarry in
Chiradzulu are finding it difficult to live a normal life because of the
activities at the quarry. A sad story is told of a river that dried up
because of the quarry and now people cannot access clean water from this
river. Similarly the residents have to live with the noise that comes
out from explosions at the quarry. Activities at the quarry are also blamed
for polluting the air as crops in the gardens are covered with dust. Meanwhile
residents in the area are demanding that the quarry be closed because
people are now at risk as some are suffering from tuberculosis and other
respiratory diseases.

River Pollution
The issue of river pollution also received some coverage. Most rivers
in Malawi are now exposed to a lot of waste dumping from residents in
townships a thing that has left people with no option but to live with
the smells from the filth in the rivers. Among other things some rivers
are now dumping places for the waste from factories. Is it because residents
have nowhere to take their waste? Perhaps it is high time city assemblies
came up with refuse collecting points so that people avoid dumping waste
in the rivers.

Karonga Earthquakes
On the waste note, Karonga in the month of December experienced very strong
earthquakes which have left some people dead while leaving others homeless
and helpless. Media reports faults the meteorological department of failing
to detect the disaster in time. Meanwhile media reports commend government
of Malawi and President Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika for declaring Karonga as
a disaster area. Many well wishers including the President have visited
the area and donated various items to the victims,

What to do?
In conclusion therefore, 2009 has posed serious challenges to Malawi as
far as environmental issues are concerned as evidenced by the media reports.
Malawi has to do something now and not tomorrow to save the environment
and humanity at large. So let us all be concerned about the environment
and climate change!

GENDER

The 2009 General Elections
For the first time in the history of Malawi we have a female Vice President.
Mrs Joyce Banda's position as running mate for the Democratic Progressive
Party DPP's candidate Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, did not come as a surprise
because it was already speculated in the press. Mrs Banda who was formerly
Minister of Foreign Affairs got all the support she needed from the voters
who made sure Banda, alongside Mutharika, won with a landslide victory.
Banda is the second woman to become Vice President in the Southern Africa
after South Africa's Mlambo Ncuka.

Women failed to make it even during party primary elections because among
other things parties were favouring male candidates. It is alleged that
some female aspirants faced hostility within their parties because their
leadership preferred male candidates. This also contributed the decrease
in the number of women who finally contested. It should be noted that
there are still other reasons like the hiking of nomination fees from
K10,000 to K100,000 was also hindrance to some women. The fact that some
female aspirants were not financially stable also decreased the number
of women who finally contested in the general elections.

50-50 Campaign
2009 was a year of general elections and the participation of women was
followed by the press. In the previous elections women were fighting for
30% of female representation in the national assembly. There are 193 seats
in the Malawi Parliament. Although there was a lot of awareness women
failed to reach the required 30%. It should be noted that Malawi is not
the only country in the Southern Africa Development Corporation SADC region
that failed to make it.

The SADC target changed from 30% to 50% of female representation in any
decision-making positions. Member states in the SADC region agreed that
countries should now be striving to reach 50% of women and 50% of men
in any decision making position. That is why there was the 50-50 campaign
during the 2009 May general elections.

The Malawi government and the gender organisations received some donor
support for the 50-50 campaigns. Like any awareness raising activities,
the 50-50 campaign got a lot of advocacy and press coverage before and
after the elections. It is not a surprise that with all the support the
women got the again failed to reach their goal 50%. Out of the 193 seats
in the National assembly, women make only 28%.

Experience has shown that there is still a lot of work that needs to
be done to change people's mindset. A number of female contestants failed
to make it because they did not get support from fellow women. This clearly
shows that some people out there do not feel comfortable have female leader.
Similarly there is still a tendency of pulling each other down among women.
If only activists manage to help in changing people's mindset on female
leaders this scenario would perhaps change for the better.

Results from a National Population Census that was conducted in 2008
but released in 2009 survey have shown that women still make up more than
50% of the population. Malawi has over 13 million people. Perhaps with
these figures one would expect women to use this to their advantage by
voting each other into power.

Malawi failed to reach the 30 % target, but it is not the only country
that failed to do so. So far only five countries in the whole SADC region
made it. These are Mauritius, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa and Namibia.
Now to the other countries that failed to reach the target when it was
at 30% one tends to wonder if they will reach the new target of 50%. This
whole issue of aspiring to reach the set goal of 50% raised a number of
debates among some civil society organisations. While some observers felt
there should be some seats that should automatically be reserved form
women so that we reach the 50%. But some however have been against the
idea because they felt women should be in decision-making position on
merit. So far many have not favoured this proposal as a result it was
not followed during the May 2009 general elections.

Women in Parliament
Although a number of female Members of Parliament MPs are new in the August
House, their participation has been greatly appreciated by some observers.
In the year 2009 women contributed to the proceedings in the National
Assembly though there were new in the system.

Gender activists and some observers expressed shock over the composition
of the committees of the national assembly. Firstly looking at the membership
of the parliamentary committees, their chairs are all from the ruling
Democratic Progressive Party. As if this is not enough there is only one
woman chairing a committee. This development shocked the nation because
people expected equal sharing of responsibilities between male and female
members of the national assembly.

16 Days of Activism
Just like the years before the Malawi nation observed the 16 Days of Activism
amid reports of massive gender based violence against women. In most homes
in Malawi it seems like normal for women to be abused. Men get away with
all kinds of abuses in Malawi because there is a tendency of silence and
respect for marriage among many Malawian women. Since the beginning of
the year 2009 there have been plenty of ugly incidents in the press. Left
right and centre women have suffered physical, emotional and financial
abuses but have always remained silent.

Although there is an increase in cases of gender based violence in Malawi,
the country still continues to get good attributes from leaders who keep
saying, Malawi is a peaceful and god-fearing nation. One tends to wonder
what exactly people mean when they god-fearing. In all fairness a god-fearing
nation would have less acts of abuse. Similarly individuals would always
question themselves before they harm others.

A number of cases of gender based violence found their way in the press
in 2009 meaning acts of violence against women are still the common in
society. Despite the fact that there is legislation against gender based
violence, women and children continue to face various forms of abuse.
Now the 16 Days of Activism also give Malawians a chance to reflect on
the need to avoid violence against loved ones at all times.

Gender and Development Protocol
After months of waiting President Bingu wa Mutharika signed the SADC Gender
and Development Protocol. Mutharika signed the protocol at a function
that many gender activists were not allowed to attend. There had been
cries from some sectors of society over Malawi's delay in signing the
gender and development protocol. Mutharika has so far been praised for
his signing the protocol because it shows that the country is committed
to gender and development. Previously Mutharika has received awards for
his work on gender and development. Mutharika also received praise from
other international observers who commended Malawi for signing the protocol.

Women as Heroes
President Bingu wa Mutharika honoured Rose Chibambo, Malawi's first female
Cabinet Minister by naming a road after her in Mzuzu City. Chibambo against
all odds was appointed into Cabinet in the Kamuzu era. Mutharika named
the road after Chibambo in recognition of her work in the one party era.
But observers have noted that there are still some more women missing
who should be recognised for their contributions to Malawi. 2009 reports
disclosed that there are times when as a nation we remember brave men
who fought for this country's freedom but women are never mentioned. Besides
the fact that some of the men we call our martyrs fought alongside women,
the brave women go unnoticed.

Marriage Age Bill
Much to the dismay of the gender activists Parliament in 2009 passed the
marriage age bill which stated that people can be married at the age of
16 without their parents' consent. The issue raised a lot of debate among
gender activists who through the media expressed shock over the members
of parliament's conduct in passing this bill. Gender activists have always
advocated for more education for the girl child so that they are not dependent
on other people especially men. Now at 16 many girls are still in school.
This is what shocked many people including the girl children who felt
they were not consulted. Similarly other observers felt parliament passed
the bull in haste. Against this background President Bingu wa Mutharika
did not assent the bill to give room for more consultations.